Question About Filters

[Syborg1211]

So I'm still learning about all this photography jazz, and I just read about how a graduated neutral density filter would help with landscape/sunset/sunrise pictures, which is my favorite type of shot. I understand the optical reasons why they help since I am somewhat of an optical engineer at my job, but I'm curious about the actual usage of the filters.

The filters are quite expensive, and I need a filter holding system too? Will I get decent results if I just buy a filter and hand-hold the filter? I'm assuming not since my hand will be shaky, but here's hoping! Thanks for the help!

 

[JohnnyRebel]

http://www.adorama.com/alc/article/13005

http://www.ronbigelow.com/articles/neutral-density/neutral-density.htm

FWIW,

JR

 

[angry hampster]

I usually hand-hold my Hi-Tech grad ND filters. If anything, the slight movement of your hand will soften the graduation.

 

[Throckmorton]

No one uses filters like that anymore, just do it in your post processing

 

[JohnnyRebel]

KR advocates using screw-in graduated neutral density filters. Here is a quick read:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/grads.htm

JR

 

[Throckmorton]

I don't get it though. It's not like the bright/dark you're trying to compensate for matches the gradient at all. You're just intentionally introducing artifacts

 

[Paladin3]

No one uses filters like that anymore, just do it in your post processing

I would like to politely disagree.

There is a fine line between constructive post processing and desperately trying to polish a turd. There is no way to get detail into a blow out highlight with no data unless you start combining frames.

I find it far easier to use a ND filter and get it right in camera. The same goes for just about every other technical shortcoming photographers try to fix in post processing.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

...get it right in camera. The same goes for just about every other technical shortcoming photographers try to fix in post processing.

:thumbsup:

 

[Throckmorton]

I would like to politely disagree.

There is a fine line between constructive post processing and desperately trying to polish a turd. There is no way to get detail into a blow out highlight with no data unless you start combining frames.

I find it far easier to use a ND filter and get it right in camera. The same goes for just about every other technical shortcoming photographers try to fix in post processing.

Good point, I realized that from reading Ken Rockwell's page (ACK!). But still, almost all of the time the gradient can't possibly match your light/dark areas.

 

[Syborg1211]

Thanks for all the responses and healthy discussion! I found a couple used filters on craigslist and will give a shot at hand-holding. I ended up looking into GND's because I had some sunset vacation shots where the foreground was underexposed compared to the awesome sunset.

I was able to make the shot look pretty good using Lightroom, but I would have really regretted it had I not been able to correct the problem. If I can get the shot right using a filter, then that leaves more peace of mind during the shoot and less gambling on the ability to post-process my way out of a bad exposure. Also, I can take shots both with and without the filter and have the best of both worlds.

Here's the photo I was talking about. A GND would have done wonders for the original shot, no?

 

[RobDickinson]

No one uses filters like that anymore, just do it in your post processing

I use a full set of filters all the time.

Sometimes I will hand hold 1 filter, sometimes I will blutack a filter to the lens.

A lot of the time I will use a filter holder.

I currently use hitech 1/2/3 stop grads (hard and soft) 0.6 reverse grad and plain ND's + a cokin CPL.

I'm going to buy 100mm Lee filters soon. TBH if your serious about it just go buy Lee, nothing else comes close.

Here's the photo I was talking about. A GND would have done wonders for the original shot, no?

Yes a 2 or 3 stop hard ND would have worked wonders on that. Remember it slows your shutter speeds down and you may not get it quite balanced but its better than having it way out as you would without the filters.

Hitech 0.9 hard nd :

Wave Surge by robjdickinson, on Flickr

Same:

A pier in the mist by robjdickinson, on Flickr

.6 hard ND + .6 reverse ND

Lyttleton re-edit by robjdickinson, on Flickr

.6 reverse nd + 2 stop ND

Storm Dawn by robjdickinson, on Flickr

 

[Lemon law]

If nothing else a filter can prevent scratches on the lens itself, and polarizing filters can do things software cannot.

After that, it can get really expensive to have a separate filters for every lens in your kitbag. But as Robjdickinson shows, the proper filter at the proper time, can make the shot.

 

[Throckmorton]

Thanks for all the responses and healthy discussion! I found a couple used filters on craigslist and will give a shot at hand-holding. I ended up looking into GND's because I had some sunset vacation shots where the foreground was underexposed compared to the awesome sunset.

I was able to make the shot look pretty good using Lightroom, but I would have really regretted it had I not been able to correct the problem. If I can get the shot right using a filter, then that leaves more peace of mind during the shoot and less gambling on the ability to post-process my way out of a bad exposure. Also, I can take shots both with and without the filter and have the best of both worlds.

Here's the photo I was talking about. A GND would have done wonders for the original shot, no?

But you'd have a gradient on the sky that doesn't exist in real life, and another gradient on the ground. For the sky it might look good though.

Why not just composite? That's what Ansel Adams did

 

[RobDickinson]

But you'd have a gradient on the sky that doesn't exist in real life, and another gradient on the ground. For the sky it might look good though.

Your eyes see and adjust to dynamic range a lot better than a camera can, filters (and hdr etc) just compensate for that.

Why not just composite? That's what Ansel Adams did

AA would be using filters, photoshop, HDR , all the toys , if he was a modern photographer.

 

[finbarqs]

agreed.